Sports towel and associated method of manufacture

ABSTRACT

A towel, comprising: a first panel comprising an end edge, two wholly or partially tapering or curved side edges, and a center edge; and a second panel comprising an end edge, two wholly or partially tapering or curved side edges, and a center edge; wherein the first panel is one of integrally formed with and joined to the second panel at the center edges thereof such that a center portion of the towel has a width that is less than a width of either the end edge of the first panel or the end edge of the second panel. The towel may also comprise one or more tab appendages attached to and protruding from one or more of the end edge of the first panel, a side edge of the first panel, the end edge of the second panel, and a side edge of the second panel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present patent application/patent claims the benefit of priority ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/599,123, filed on Feb. 15,2012, and entitled “TOWEL AND ASSOCIATED METHOD OF USE,” and U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 61/712,894, filed on Oct. 12, 2012,and entitled “AUTOGRAPH TOWEL,” the contents of both of which areincorporated in full by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the fields of sporting goods,sports memorabilia, and sports collectibles. More specifically, thepresent invention relates to a sports towel, such as a golf towel or thelike, that is configured and shaped to be comfortably and securelydisposed over the shoulder or the like of a user. The present inventionfurther relates to a sports towel that includes one or more tabappendages disposed about the periphery thereof that is/are configuredand sized to receive the autograph of a sports figure, celebrity, or thelike, representing a piece of sports memorabilia.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There is a need in the art for a sports towel, such as a golf towel orthe like, that is configured and shaped to be comfortably and securelydisposed over the shoulder or the like of a user. Such a sports towelwould remedy the problems associated with conventional rectangulartowels that are cumbersome, and unwieldy to carry, such that the sportstowel would be readily available for use in wiping ones hands, onesperspiration, a golf club grip or head, or the like, and not easilydropped.

There is also a need in the art for a sports towel that includes one ormore tab appendages disposed about the periphery thereof that is/areconfigured and sized to receive the autograph of a sports figure,celebrity, or the like, representing a piece of sports memorabilia. Atsporting events and the like, it is often desirable to have a piece ofclothing, a piece of equipment, or other keepsake autographed by asports figure, celebrity, or the like. Numerous such pieces of clothing,pieces of equipment, and other keepsakes have been designed and marketedspecifically for this purpose. However, no adequate towel or the like isyet available.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides asports towel, such as a golf towel or the like, that is configured andshaped to be comfortably and securely disposed over the shoulder or thelike of a user. The present invention also provides a sports towel thatincludes one or more tab appendages disposed about the periphery thereofthat is/are configured and sized to receive the autograph of a sportsfigure, celebrity, or the like, representing a piece of sportsmemorabilia.

In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a towel,comprising: a first panel comprising an end edge, two wholly orpartially tapering or curved side edges, and a center edge; and a secondpanel comprising an end edge, two wholly or partially tapering or curvedside edges, and a center edge; wherein the first panel is one ofintegrally formed with and joined to the second panel at the centeredges thereof such that a center portion of the towel has a width thatis less than a width of either the end edge of the first panel or theend edge of the second panel. Optionally, one or more of the side edgesof the first panel and the second panel further comprise a straightportion. Optionally, a selected side edge of the first panel meets aselected side edge of the second panel at an angle. Alternatively, aselected side edge of the first panel meets a selected side edge of thesecond panel in a continuous curve. The towel may also comprise one ormore tab appendages attached to and protruding from one or more of theend edge of the first panel, a side edge of the first panel, the endedge of the second panel, and a side edge of the second panel.Preferably, the one or more tab appendages each comprise a substantiallyunmarked portion on the surface thereof configured to receivehandwriting. Optionally, the first panel and the second panel are cutfrom a rectangular piece of a textile and remaining portions of therectangular piece of the textile are joined to form one of a diamondshaped towel and an eye shaped towel separate and distinct from thetowel.

In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides a methodfor manufacturing a towel, comprising: providing a first panelcomprising an end edge, two wholly or partially tapering or curved sideedges, and a center edge; and providing a second panel comprising an endedge, two wholly or partially tapering or curved side edges, and acenter edge; wherein the first panel is one of integrally formed withand joined to the second panel at the center edges thereof such that acenter portion of the towel has a width that is less than a width ofeither the end edge of the first panel or the end edge of the secondpanel. Optionally, one or more of the side edges of the first panel andthe second panel further comprise a straight portion. Optionally, aselected side edge of the first panel meets a selected side edge of thesecond panel at an angle. Alternatively, a selected side edge of thefirst panel meets a selected side edge of the second panel in acontinuous curve. The method may also comprise providing one or more tabappendages attached to and protruding from one or more of the end edgeof the first panel, a side edge of the first panel, the end edge of thesecond panel, and a side edge of the second panel. Preferably, the oneor more tab appendages each comprise a substantially unmarked portion onthe surface thereof configured to receive handwriting. Optionally, thefirst panel and the second panel are cut from a rectangular piece of atextile and remaining portions of the rectangular piece of the textileare joined to form one of a diamond shaped towel and an eye shaped towelseparate and distinct from the towel.

In a further exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides amethod for manufacturing towels, comprising: cutting a first panelcomprising an end edge, two wholly or partially tapering or curved sideedges, and a center edge from a rectangular piece of a textile; cuttinga second panel comprising an end edge, two wholly or partially taperingor curved side edges, and a center edge from the rectangular piece ofthe textile; wherein the first panel is one of integrally formed withand joined to the second panel at the center edges thereof to form atowel such that a center portion of the towel has a width that is lessthan a width of either the end edge of the first panel or the end edgeof the second panel; and joining remaining portions of the rectangularpiece of the textile to form one of a diamond shaped towel and an eyeshaped towel separate and distinct from the towel. Optionally, one ormore of the side edges of the first panel and the second panel furthercomprise a straight portion. Optionally, a selected side edge of thefirst panel meets a selected side edge of the second panel at an angle.Alternatively, a selected side edge of the first panel meets a selectedside edge of the second panel in a continuous curve. The method may alsocomprise providing one or more tab appendages attached to and protrudingfrom one or more of the end edge of the first panel, a side edge of thefirst panel, the end edge of the second panel, and a side edge of thesecond panel. Preferably, the one or more tab appendages each comprise asubstantially unmarked portion on the surface thereof configured toreceive handwriting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated and described herein with referenceto the various drawings, in which like reference numbers are used todenote like towel components/method steps, as appropriate, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a planar top view of one exemplary embodiment of the towel ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a planar top view of another exemplary embodiment of the towelof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a planar top view of a further exemplary embodiment of thetowel of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a planar top view of a still further exemplary embodiment ofthe towel of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of the towel ofthe present invention in use; and

FIG. 6 is a planar top view of a still further exemplary embodiment ofthe towel of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Again, in various exemplary embodiments, the present invention providesa sports towel 10 (FIGS. 1-6), such as a golf towel or the like, that isconfigured and shaped to be comfortably and securely disposed over theshoulder or the like of a user. The present invention also provides asports towel 10 (FIG. 6) that includes one or more tab appendages 50(FIG. 6) disposed about the periphery thereof that is/are configured andsized to receive the autograph of a sports figure, celebrity, or thelike, representing a piece of sports memorabilia.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 1-4 and 6, in several exemplaryembodiments, the present invention provides a towel 10, comprising afirst panel 12 comprising an end edge 14, two wholly or partiallytapering or curved side edges 16, and a center edge or portion 18; and asecond panel 20 comprising an end edge 22, two wholly or partiallytapering or curved side edges 24, and a center edge or portion 26. Eachpanel 12, 20 is woven or otherwise manufactured from a towel material,as is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The first panel12 is one of integrally formed with and joined to the second panel 20 atthe center edges or portions 18, 26 thereof such that a center portion28 of the towel 10 has a width that is less than a width of either theend edge 14 of the first panel 12 or the end edge 22 of the second panel20. Optionally, one or more of the side edges 16, 24 of the first panel12 and the second panel 20 further comprise a straight portion 30 (FIGS.3 and 4). Optionally, a selected side edge 16 of the first panel 12meets a selected side edge 24 of the second panel 20 at an angle.Alternatively, a selected side edge 16 of the first panel 12 meets aselected side edge 24 of the second panel 20 in a continuous curve.

The towel 10 may also comprise one or more tab appendages 50 (FIG. 6)attached to and protruding from one or more of the end edge 14 of thefirst panel 12, a side edge 16 of the first panel 12, the end edge 22 ofthe second panel 20, and a side edge 24 of the second panel 20.Preferably, the one or more tab appendages 50 each comprise asubstantially unmarked portion on the surface thereof configured toreceive handwriting. Accordingly, the appendages 50 may have asubstantially rectangular shape, a substantially square shape, asubstantially triangular shape, or the like, and dimensions on the orderof several centimeters or several inches.

Optionally, the first panel 12 and the second panel 20 are cut from arectangular piece of a textile and remaining portions (not illustrated)of the rectangular piece of the textile are joined to form one of adiamond shaped towel (not illustrated) and an eye shaped towel (notillustrated) separate and distinct from the towel 10.

Accordingly, in a further exemplary embodiment, the present inventionprovides a method for manufacturing towels, comprising cutting a firstpanel 12 comprising an end edge 14, two wholly or partially tapering orcurved side edges 16, and a center edge or portion 18 from a rectangularpiece of a textile; and cutting a second panel 20 comprising an end edge22, two wholly or partially tapering or curved side edges 24, and acenter edge or portion 26 from the rectangular piece of the textile.Each panel 12, 20 is woven or otherwise manufactured from a towelmaterial, as is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thefirst panel 12 is one of integrally formed with and joined to the secondpanel 20 at the center edges or portions 18, 26 thereof to form a towel10 such that a center portion 28 of the towel 10 has a width that isless than a width of either the end edge 18 of the first panel 12 or theend edge 26 of the second panel 20. The remaining portions (notillustrated) of the rectangular piece of the textile are joined to formone of a diamond shaped towel (not illustrated) and an eye shaped towel(not illustrated) separate and distinct from the towel 10. Optionally,one or more of the side edges 16, 24 of the first panel 12 and thesecond panel 20 further comprise a straight portion 30 (FIGS. 3 and 4).Optionally, a selected side edge 16 of the first panel 12 meets aselected side edge 24 of the second panel 20 at an angle. Alternatively,a selected side edge 16 of the first panel 12 meets a selected side edge24 of the second panel 20 in a continuous curve.

The towel 10 may also comprise one or more tab appendages 50 (FIG. 6)attached to and protruding from one or more of the end edge 14 of thefirst panel 12, a side edge 16 of the first panel 12, the end edge 22 ofthe second panel 20, and a side edge 24 of the second panel 20.Preferably, the one or more tab appendages 50 each comprise asubstantially unmarked portion on the surface thereof configured toreceive handwriting. Accordingly, the appendages 50 may have asubstantially rectangular shape, a substantially square shape, asubstantially triangular shape, or the like, and dimensions on the orderof several centimeters or several inches.

Although the present invention has been illustrated and described hereinwith reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof,it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art thatother embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/orachieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples arewithin the spirit and scope of the present invention, are contemplatedthereby, and are intended to be covered by the following claims. In thisrespect, the above detailed description of the present invention is tobe considered non-limiting and all-encompassing to the greatest extentpossible.

What is claimed is:
 1. A towel, comprising: a first panel comprising anend edge, two wholly or partially tapering or curved side edges, and acenter edge; and a second panel comprising an end edge, two wholly orpartially tapering or curved side edges, and a center edge; wherein thefirst panel is one of integrally formed with and joined to the secondpanel at the center edges thereof such that a center portion of thetowel has a width that is less than a width of either the end edge ofthe first panel or the end edge of the second panel.
 2. The towel ofclaim 1, wherein one or more of the side edges of the first panel andthe second panel further comprise a straight portion.
 3. The towel ofclaim 1, wherein a selected side edge of the first panel meets aselected side edge of the second panel at an angle.
 4. The towel ofclaim 1, wherein a selected side edge of the first panel meets aselected side edge of the second panel in a continuous curve.
 5. Thetowel of claim 1, further comprising one or more tab appendages attachedto and protruding from one or more of the end edge of the first panel, aside edge of the first panel, the end edge of the second panel, and aside edge of the second panel.
 6. The towel of claim 5, wherein the oneor more tab appendages each comprise a substantially unmarked portion onthe surface thereof configured to receive handwriting.
 7. The towel ofclaim 1, wherein the first panel and the second panel are cut from arectangular piece of a textile and remaining portions of the rectangularpiece of the textile are joined to form one of a diamond shaped toweland an eye shaped towel separate and distinct from the towel.
 8. Amethod for manufacturing a towel, comprising: providing a first panelcomprising an end edge, two wholly or partially tapering or curved sideedges, and a center edge; and providing a second panel comprising an endedge, two wholly or partially tapering or curved side edges, and acenter edge; wherein the first panel is one of integrally formed withand joined to the second panel at the center edges thereof such that acenter portion of the towel has a width that is less than a width ofeither the end edge of the first panel or the end edge of the secondpanel.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein one or more of the side edgesof the first panel and the second panel further comprise a straightportion.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein a selected side edge of thefirst panel meets a selected side edge of the second panel at an angle.11. The method of claim 8, wherein a selected side edge of the firstpanel meets a selected side edge of the second panel in a continuouscurve.
 12. The method of claim 8, further comprising providing one ormore tab appendages attached to and protruding from one or more of theend edge of the first panel, a side edge of the first panel, the endedge of the second panel, and a side edge of the second panel.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the one or more tab appendages each comprisea substantially unmarked portion on the surface thereof configured toreceive handwriting.
 14. The method of claim 8, wherein the first paneland the second panel are cut from a rectangular piece of a textile andremaining portions of the rectangular piece of the textile are joined toform one of a diamond shaped towel and an eye shaped towel separate anddistinct from the towel.
 15. A method for manufacturing towels,comprising: cutting a first panel comprising an end edge, two wholly orpartially tapering or curved side edges, and a center edge from arectangular piece of a textile; cutting a second panel comprising an endedge, two wholly or partially tapering or curved side edges, and acenter edge from the rectangular piece of the textile; wherein the firstpanel is one of integrally formed with and joined to the second panel atthe center edges thereof to form a towel such that a center portion ofthe towel has a width that is less than a width of either the end edgeof the first panel or the end edge of the second panel; and joiningremaining portions of the rectangular piece of the textile to form oneof a diamond shaped towel and an eye shaped towel separate and distinctfrom the towel.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein one or more of theside edges of the first panel and the second panel further comprise astraight portion.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein a selected sideedge of the first panel meets a selected side edge of the second panelat an angle.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein a selected side edge ofthe first panel meets a selected side edge of the second panel in acontinuous curve.
 19. The method of claim 15, further comprisingproviding one or more tab appendages attached to and protruding from oneor more of the end edge of the first panel, a side edge of the firstpanel, the end edge of the second panel, and a side edge of the secondpanel.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the one or more tabappendages each comprise a substantially unmarked portion on the surfacethereof configured to receive handwriting.